PGCB releases Lancaster County video gaming terminal opt-out process

(PRESS RELEASE) -- The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today announced the process for municipalities in Lancaster County to opt out of the placement of video gaming terminals (VGTs) at truck stops that meet statutory eligibility criteria.

On 2 July 2019, Governor Wolf signed SB 321 (Act 63 of 2019) into law, permitting municipalities in Lancaster County to opt-out of truck stop VGT gaming. Specifically, § 502. Municipal option for gaming provides that a municipality may, by delivering a resolution of the municipality's governing body to the Board by 31 August 2019, prohibit the location of an establishment licensee within the municipality.

Act 42 of 2017 provided for up to five Video Gaming Terminals (VGT’s) to be located in eligible truck stops that generally must be equipped with diesel islands for fueling commercial motor vehicles, have sold on average 50,000 gallons of diesel or biodiesel fuel each month for the last 12 months (or be projected to do so in the future), have at least 20 parking spots dedicated for commercial motor vehicles, have a convenience store, and be situated on a parcel of land at least 3 acres in size.

A municipality within Lancaster County that desires to restrict the establishment of VGT gaming within its boundaries and which passes a municipal resolution to that effect, should forward the resolution to Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Secretary Pamela Lewis at pamelewis@pa.gov. The resolution must be received by 31 August 2019. Notices of all resolutions received will be posted to the Board’s website on a weekly basis.